Delivering electronic content

ABSTRACT

Delivering electronic content includes providing instructions that cause a computer to collect information including an e-mail address and transmitting the collected information to a receiving computer. The computer that receives the transmitted information selects electronic content based on the received information and e-mails the selected electronic content to the e-mail address included in the received information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to delivering electronic content.

BACKGROUND

The Internet offers a tremendous amount of information on a wide rangeof subjects. Many businesses and organizations offer world-wide-websites that promote products, offer technical assistance, and provideother useful information. Search engines (e.g., Yahoo™) typically canprovide lengthy lists of sites related to any topic of interest. Userstypically do not want to take the time to investigate more than ahandful of these sites. As a result, the vast number of web-sites makesit difficult for web-site providers to lure Internet users to theirrespective sites.

Since the inception of the web, web-pages have featured links to othersites. A link can appear as underlined text (e.g., “please visitdeskgate”), as a picture, or as a sequence of images. Each link has anassociated URL (universal resource locator) that identifies a web-site.For example, the URL associated with the deskgate link ishttp://www.deskgate.com. A link can be programmed to transport a user toa link's associated URL when a user selects the link (e.g., by clickinga mouse button).

To attract users to a site, some businesses rent space on otherweb-pages. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a newspaper web-page 100includes a variety of links to other sites. As shown, the web-pageincludes a banner 102 (i.e., a picture link in the shape of a banner)linked to a resort's web-site. By selecting the link, the user istransported to the resort's web-page as shown in FIG. 2.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, a method of delivering electronic contentincludes providing instructions that cause a first computer to collectinformation including an e-mail address, and transmitting the collectedinformation to a second computer. The second computer processes thetransmitted information by selecting electronic content for transmissionto the e-mail address and e-mailing the selected electronic content.

Embodiments may include one or more of the following. The instructionscan be web-page instructions such as HTML. The instructions can be of aform. The instructions can collect the information by querying thecomputer or by receiving user input. The information can includedemographic information and/or system information.

The processing can be done by a program such as a script (e.g., a CGIscript). A URL (universal resource locator) displayed at a browser usingthe instructions may not be altered by the transmitting of the collectedinformation. The processing can select electronic content based on thetransmitted information. The electronic content can include text,graphics, audio, video and/or executable instructions.

The information transmitted can include identification of theinstructions that transmitted the information and/or identification of asite that transmitted the information.

In general, in another aspect, a method of delivering electronic contentincludes providing web-page form instructions that cause a firstcomputer to interactively collect an e-mail address from a user andtransmit information including the collected address information to asecond computer. The method further includes processing the transmittedinformation at the second computer by using the transmitted informationto select electronic content and e-mailing the selected electroniccontent to the transmitted e-mail address.

In general, in another aspect, a method of delivering electronic contentincludes storing electronic content corresponding to different sets ofinstructions, receiving a request for electronic content produced by oneof the sets of instructions, the request including an e-mail address,and

selecting electronic content from the stored electronic content based onthe received request. The selected electronic content is transmitted tothe e-mail address included in the request.

In general, in another aspect, a computer-implemented method ofproviding access to electronic content includes

displaying in a browser a web-page that includes a link corresponding toelectronic content and in response to a user's selection of the link,collecting information without modifying the web-page displayed in thebrowser. The collected information is transmitted to a remote server,and electronic content from the remote server is sent to the e-mailaddress based on the collected information.

In general, in another aspect, a computer program, disposed on acomputer readable medium, includes instructions for causing a firstcomputer's processor to receive information collected by instructions ata second computer, and based on the received information, selectelectronic content and transmit the electronic content to an e-mailaddress included in the received information.

Advantages may include one or more of the following. By linking ane-mail based electronic content delivery system to a web-page,businesses can enjoy the benefits of reaching “web-surfers” without thecost and/or computer resources needed to maintain a web-site. Linking inthis manner also provides Internet users with the ability to get moreinformation about a topic without leaving a web-page and without waitingfor graphics and other information to be transmitted to their browser. Abusiness providing electronic content can not only can receivedemographic data describing interested users, but also can determinewhich web-pages are most effective in producing requests forinformation.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of thefollowing description, including the figures, and the claims.

DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1 is a screenshot of web-page that includes a banner.

FIG. 2 is a screenshot of a web-page reached via the banner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a web-page that includes a link.

FIG. 4 is a content is a screenshot of a submission confirmation window.

FIG. 5 is a screenshot of an e-mail message including electroniccontent.

FIG. 6 is a listing of web-page instructions.

FIGS. 7A–7C are diagrams illustrating delivery of electronic content.

FIG. 7D is a block diagram of an embodiment of electronic content,according to principles of the invention.

FIG. 7E is a flow diagram showing steps of processing notificationinstructions, according to principles of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of distribution software.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 3, a web-page 104 viewed by a network browser (e.g.,Netscape™ Navigator) uses text and graphics to present information to auser. As shown, the text and graphics include information related to abusiness enterprise. The web-page 104 also includes a form 106 thataccepts user input. As shown, the form 106 includes a text entry control108, and a submit button 110. The form 106 also provides a graphic image112 designed to attract attention. As shown, the form assumes the shapetraditionally associated with banner-links (e.g., a bordered rectangle)but other shapes or formats could be used. The banner shape cancommunicate to a user that the form 106 is associated with a web-siteother than the site the user is currently visiting. The form 106 caninclude other user input controls (not shown), for example, checkboxesthat identify different areas of interest (e.g., “send me information ongolf clubs” and “send me information on golf vacations”).

Unlike a conventional banner-link, interaction with the form 106 doesnot transport the user to a different web-site. Instead, submittingentered information into the form (e.g., by typing information into thetext box and then clicking the submit button 110) transmits theinformation entered by the user to a remote web-server without changingthe current URL being displayed by the browser. The remote web-serveruses the transmitted information to select and deliver electroniccontent (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video, and executableinstructions) via email. Co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,670, titled“Tracking Electronic Content”, and filed Nov. 24, 1998, describes anelectronic content delivery system, and is incorporated by reference.

Referring to FIG. 4, as shown, a user has entered an network e-mailaddress into the text field 108 and clicked the submit button 110. Thisaction initiates transmission of the entered information to the remoteweb-server. After submitting the information, a window 114 appearsinforming a user that the information has been transmitted. The feedbackprovided by the window 114 prevents users from making repeatedsubmissions in the mistaken belief their request failed.

FIG. 5 shows the interface for an e-mail client. After the remoteweb-server has received the transmitted information, it selects theappropriate electronic content and e-mails the selected electroniccontent to the specified e-mail address. The requestor then can view orotherwise access the delivered content using the e-mail client. Asshown, the electronic content may be transmitted as an e-mail attachment120. By delivering electronic content via e-mail, users can requestinformation without interrupting their use of a currently displayedweb-page 104 and without waiting for a linked site's web-page to load.Additionally, a business can deliver the content to an Internet userwithout the cost and expense of maintaining a web-site or reserving anInternet address.

Referring to FIG. 6, a network browser constructs a web-page'sappearance from web-page instructions 104. These instructions 104 can beexpressed in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), Java, or other formats.When a user visits a web-page, the instructions 104 for the page aretransmitted to the user's computer for processing by the user's browser.The instructions 104 describe the appearance and behavior of web-pageelements. For example, the instructions describe the form 106, thegraphic image 112, the text control 108, and submit button 110. Theinstructions 104 include instructions 120 for transmitting collectedinformation to the remote web-server for processing. As shown, theinstructions 106 identify a program 122 at a remote web-server andspecify values for different parameters 124 a–124 c. The remote serverprogram processes the parameters to select electronic content to deliverto a specified e-mail address 108. As shown, the program is a CGI(Common Gateway Interface) script, however, programs written in otherprogramming languages can also process the collected information (e.g.,a Perl script or a Java or C++ program).

As shown, the instructions 106 transmit the e-mail address 124 cinteractively collected from a user and an identification of theelectronic content 124 b to deliver to the e-mail address specified 124c. Instead of hard-coding the content to deliver 124 b, the instructions120 can transmit an I.D. that identifies electronic content to transmit.For example, different I.D.s can be assigned to different sets ofinstructions 120. That is, an I.D. for the golf promotion form may be“001” while the I.D. for a car promotion form may be “002”. Though thesame instructions 120 can be incorporated into different web-pages, theremote server can use the I.D. to select the electronic content totransmit (e.g., information on the golf or car promotion). By using anI.D. instead of hard-coding a reference to electronic content,electronic content transmitted to a user can be easily altered.

The instructions 106 can be copied 106 into different web-pages to reachmore web users. To identify the site that produced a request forelectronic content, the instructions 106 can transmit a siteidentification token 124 a of the site transmitting the information.This information can be hard-coded (as shown) or dynamically determinedby interacting with a browser's API (Application Programming Interface).By transmitting the site token 124 a, the remote web-server can identifywhich web-pages produced the most number of requests for content.

The instructions 106 can be configured to interactively collect a widevariety of information from a user in addition to an e-mail address.Such information can include demographic information (e.g., name,address, and age) or information describing a user's interests. Theelectronic content transmitted by the remote server can be selectedbased on this information.

Additionally, the instructions 106 can dynamically access a body ofinformation stored, for example, on the user's computer, and thentransmit that information to the remote web-server. For example, theinstructions can access a Windows™ registry on the user's computer tocollect user and system information relating to the computer executingthe instructions.

Though the instructions 106 shown produce a form, the instructions 106that collect an e-mail message by querying a user's computer (e.g., byaccessing the Windows™ registry) could instead present a simple pictureor text (e.g., “Click here for e-mail information on golf”). When a userclicks on the picture or text, the instructions 106 dynamically collectthe user's e-mail address and other information from the system andtransmit the collected information to the remote server withoutrequiring any data entry by the user.

Referring to FIGS. 7A–7C, a remote web-server 132 delivers electroniccontent 138 based on a user's interaction with a web-page 104. As shownin FIG. 7A, a user's computer 126 runs browser software 128. When theuser navigates (e.g, by following a link or entering a URL) to aweb-site, the web server 130 for that web-site transmits web-pageinstructions 104 to the user's computer 126. The user's browser 126processes the web-page instructions 104 for display (as shown in FIG.3).

Referring to FIG. 7B, the web-page 104 includes instructions 106 forcollecting and transmitting information to the remote server 132. When auser submits a request for electronic content (e.g., clicking the submitbutton 110), the information 124 collected from a user and/or system istransmitted to the remote web-server 132. As described above, theinformation 124 includes an e-mail address and can include otherinformation such as an I.D. and/or the address of the site 126 producingthe request 124.

Referring to FIG. 7C, the remote web-server 132 includes a program 134for processing the transmitted information 124. The program 134 can be aCGI script or alternatively a Perl, Java, or C++ program. The remoteweb-server also stores electronic content 138 for transmission to arequesting user. The remote web-server 132 also may include a table 136that stores the electronic content 138 that should be sent in responseto an I.D. included received information. The remote web-server 132selects and transmits the electronic content 138 a via e-mail to thee-mail address specified in the received information 124.

The remote web-server 132 produces reports based on requests thatindicate which addresses received content, which web-pages producedcontent requests, and demographic information describing the user'srequesting information. Thus, businesses can closely track their effortsat reaching users.

The remote web-server 132 can store electronic content 138 correspondingto any number of different sets of instructions 106 (e.g., differentforms). Thus, a single web-server 132 can provide electronic contentdelivery for a large number of different businesses or organizations.Processing requests for content typically consumes considerablecomputational resources on the processing computer. In addition, storingthe content 138 typically requires a large volume of non-volatilestorage. By letting a remote web-server dedicated to processing requestshandle delivery and storage of content, the computers associated withthe various enterprises will not be slowed or otherwise burdened by theprocessing of requests during business hours.

Referring to FIG. 7D, the electronic content 138 may include electroniccontent 138 b such as text, graphics, audio, video, and/or executablefiles. Electronic content 138 may also include notification instructions138 c that may be executable instructions that collect and transmitnotification information. The notification instructions 138 c may beconfigured to control access to the electronic content 138 b. Further,different electronic content may use different file formats. Whenexecuted, notification instructions 138 c can determine whether aprevious attempt to access the electronic content 138 b resulted insuccess (e.g., successful transmission of notification information orreceipt of an access granting message(. The notification instructions138 c may interactively collect notification information from arecipient. The notification instructions 138 c may also collectinformation by querying the recipient's computer system.

FIG. 7E is a flow diagram showing steps of processing the n notificationinstructions, according to principles of the invention, starting at step700. At step 705, a check is made whether notification information wastransmitted successfully previously. If successful, then the processcontinues at step 730. Otherwise, the notification information may becollected. At step 715, an attempt to transmit the notificationinformation may be made. At step 720, a check may be made to determineif the transmission notification information was successful. If notsuccessful, then at step 722, access is denied to the electroniccontent. If, however, the transmission of notification information wassuccessful, then at step 725, an indicator may be stored indicatingsuccessful transmission. At step 730, a prompt for a password may occur.At step 735, a check may be make whether a correct password was entered.If the password was not correctly entered then, at step 750, an attemptto transmit notification information may occur. At step 755, access toelectronic content may be denied. If, however, a correct password wasentered, or, if not prompted for, then at step 740, access may begranted to the electronic content (e.g., decompress and decrypt). Atstep 745, an attempt to transmit notification information may occur.

Referring to FIG. 8, the program 134 running on the remote web-server132 processes information to select and e-mail electronic content to aspecified e-mail address. After receiving a request for electroniccontent (140), the program 134 may repress transmission of informationto a user's browser (e.g., for example by issuing an “echo status: 202No Response” command). This command prevents a user's display from beingaltered.

The program 134 can use the I.D. to determine which electronic contentto send to a specified address (142). The program 134 can also analyzedemographic data included in the received information 124 to selectelectronic content for delivery. After selecting the electronic content,the program 134 can e-mail the determined content (144) to the e-mailaddress specified in the request 124.

Referring to FIG. 9, a computer platform 146 includes a monitor 148,input devices such as a keyboard 150 and mouse 151, and a digitalcomputer 152. The digital computer 152 includes memory 154, a processor156, a mass storage device 164 a (e.g., a hard disk) and a networkconnection 160 for transmitting and receiving data. The mass storagedevice 164 a includes instructions for an operating system 162 (e.g.,Windows™ 98), distribution software 134, and electronic content 138.These instructions can be stored in other computer readable mediums suchas a floppy disk 164 b, a CD-ROM drive 164 c, or other hardware such asan EPROM 164 d. In the course of operation, the stored instructions aretransferred to memory 154 and the processor 156 for execution.

The techniques described here are not limited to any particular hardwareor software configuration. The techniques may be implemented in hardwareor software, or a combination of the two. Preferably, the techniques areimplemented in computer programs executing on programmable computersthat each include a processor, a storage medium readable by theprocessor (including volatile and nonvolatile memory and/or storageelements), at least one input device, and one or more output devices.Program code is applied to data entered using the input device toperform the functions described and to generate output information. Theoutput information is applied to one or more output devices.

Each program is preferably implemented in a high level procedural orobject oriented programming language to communicate with a computersystem. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machinelanguage, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled orinterpreted language.

Each such computer program is preferably stored on a storage medium ordevice (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk or magnetic diskette) that is readableby a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuringand operating the computer when the storage medium or device is read bythe computer to perform the procedures described in this document. Thesystem may also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storagemedium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific andpredefined manner.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A method of delivering electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: providing instructions that causes a first computer to dynamically transmit a user's email address to a second computer in response to a request for data; processing the request for data at the second computer; emailing the requested data to the user's email address; and attempting to transmit notification information to a server upon an attempt to access the requested data, wherein the instructions are executable instructions and collect the notification information and the instructions are configured to grant or deny access to the requested data based on the results of the attempt to transmit.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing instructions comprises providing web-page instructions.
 3. The method of clam 2, wherein web-page instructions comprise HTML instructions.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructions comprise form instructions.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that query the computer for information.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions comprise instructions that receive user input.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises demographic information.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises system information.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises executing a script.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the script comprises a Common Gateway Interface script.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions remain present at the first computer during processing.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content comprises text.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content comprises graphics.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content comprises video information.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content comprises audio information.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic content comprises executable instructions.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein processing comprises selecting electronic content based on transmitted information.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises identification of the instructions that transmitted the information.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises identification of a computer that transmitted the information.
 20. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting notification information when the requested data is subsequently accessed by a third computer.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer is the server.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to grant or deny access to the requested data during creation of an envelope that includes the instructions.
 23. The method of claim 1 further comprising preventing repeated transmission of the notification information.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions distinguishes between a plurality of users of the first computer and avoids sending notification information for one of the plurality of users when the information has been previously transmitted for the one of the plurality of users.
 25. A method of delivering electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: providing web-page form instructions that causes a first computer to dynamically transmit the first computer's email address to a second computer in response to a request for data; processing the request at the second computer to select electronic content and e-mailing the electronic content to the first computer's email address; and attempting to transmit notification information when triggered by an accessing event at the first computer, wherein the instructions are executable instructions and collect the notification information and the instructions are configured to selectively grant or deny access to the electronic content based on results of the attempt to transmit.
 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting notification information when the electronic content is accessed at a third computer.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing step selects electronic content based on demographic data collected at the first computer.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the notification information includes an identifier identifying a web site producing the instructions.
 29. A computer-implemented method of providing access to electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: displaying in a browser a web-page that includes a link corresponding to electronic content; dynamically transmitting, in response to a user's selection of the link, information including an e-mail address to a remote server; sending electronic content from the remote server to the e-mail address based on the transmitted information, wherein the electronic content contains executable instructions; and attempting to transmit notification information when an attempt to access the electronic content occurs, wherein the executable instructions collect the notification information and is configured to selectively grant or deny access to the electronic content based on results of the attempt to transmit.
 30. A computer program, disposed on a computer readable medium, the computer program including instructions for causing a first computer's processor to: receive dynamically transmitted information from a second computer including the second computer's email address; based on the received information, select electronic content, and transmit the selected electronic content to the second computer's e-mail address included in the received information, wherein the electronic content contains executable instructions; and attempt to transmit notification information when triggered by an access event, wherein the executable instructions collect the notification information and selectively grants or denies access to the electronic content based on results of the attempt to transmit.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to select electronic content comprise instructions that cause the processor to use a table that includes electronic content corresponding to data included in the received information.
 32. The computer program of claim 30, further including instructions to transmit notification information when the electronic content is accessed in at least one of the second computer and a third computer.
 33. A computer implemented method of providing access to electronic content, the method comprising the steps of: displaying in a web page a link representing electronic content; dynamically transmitting, in response to a user's action, information including a network address associated with the user to a remote server; sending electronic content from the remote server to the network address associated with the user based on the transmitted information, the electronic content containing executable instructions; and attempting to transmitting notification information when triggered by an access event, wherein the executable instructions collect the notification information and selectively grants or denies access to the electronic content based on the results of the attempt to transmit. 